Fire extinguisher

ABSTRACT

A fire extinguisher having a tank and a dispensing valve supported on the tank. The dispensing valve has a handle fixed to it and a second handle swingably connected to the valve to actuate the valve. The second handle is pivoted to the valve and has a second opening passing through the second handle and through the valve and a frangible pin extends through the second opening. The pin made of frangible material locks the handles. The pin has a button on the end which cannot be removed without breaking the pin and thus revealing that the fire extinguisher has been tampered with. The frangible pin is broken when the handles are moved to actuate them. An integral guard is provided over the gauge and a plastic hose clamp performs a plurality of functions of holding the hose and holding the band as well as protecting the ends of the band and the hook itself is supported by the band.

o 1 Umtem States Patent 1191 1111 3,844,356 Allen et all. Oct. 29, 1974 FIRE EXTINGUISHER [57] ABSTRACT [75] Inventors: Louis F. Allen; Josep B- 0, o A fire extinguisher having a tank and a dispensing of Erie, Pa. valve supported on the tank. The dispensing valve has a handle fixed to it and a second handle swingably [73] Anglam connected to the valve to actuate the valve. The sec- Flledi g- 1973 0nd handle is pivoted to the valve and has a second [21] Appl. No.: 390,863 opening passing through the second handle and through the valve and a frangible pin extends through the second opening. The pin made of frangible mate- [52] US. G 5.1T..;IIIifTfibfifh, 115918-55 rial locks the handles. The pin has a button on the end [51] int. C1 A62c 13/00 which cannot be removed without breaking the pin Field Of Search 31 31 and thus revealing that the fire extinguisher has been tampered with. The frangible pin is broken when the handles are moved to actuate them. An integral guard [56] References Cited is provided over the gauge and a plastic hose clamp UNITED STATES PATENTS performs a plurality of functions of holding the hose 2,511,051 6/1950 Dzus 85/4 x and holding the band as as Protecting the ends of 3,459,447 3/1969 Hurd 8t H 85/4 X the band and the hook itself is supported by the band.

3,666,016 5/1972 Estes.... 169/31 R 3,702,637 11 1972 Bower...... 169/31 R 14 Clams 7 Drawmg figures Primary Examine/ M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerMichael Mar 39 26 f /l I /33 I2 I I L: I6 4. g 7 o; 34

1 FIRE EXTINGUISHER GENERAL STATEMENT OF INVENTION REFERENCE TO PRIOR ART The following patents show various fire extinguishers I but none of them show fire extinguishers having an improved pull pin disclosed herein: US. Pat. Nos. 2,067,829, 2,904,305, and 3,389,753.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved fire extinguisher.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fire extinguisher sealing device that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device for indicating that a fire extinguisher has been used.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the fire extinguisher according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the fire extinguisher.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the fire extinguisher.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fire extinguisher.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the fire extinguisher.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the rivet partly in cross section.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view partly in cross section of the safety pin used with the fire extinguisher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the fire extinguisher shown has a tank 10 with a valve 13 fixed to it in a conventional manner. A handle 11 is fixed to body 30 of the valve that is fixed to the tank. A second handle 12 is swingably connected to the tank at pivot formed by rivet 23. A dispensing tube l5'is also integrally fixed to the valve and when the swingable handle 12 is swung to actuate the valve, the material in the tank 10 is discharged through the tube 15 and through the hose 24 which is connected to the tube 15 and out dispensing member 31.

A pressure gage 14 of a conventional type is fixed to the tank. Gage guard 32 is in the form of a part of a hollow cylinder. Guard 32 is integrally attached to body 30. The gage guard protects and safeguards the gage from damage. The swingable handle 12 is pivoted to the body by rivet 23. Handle 12 is U-shaped in cross section and the channel of the U-shape receives the upwardly extending body portion 30 that receives a neck of the tank in a familiar manner. A hole extends through both legs of the U-shaped handle and through the body 30. A pin 16 made of frangible material extends through a hole in the body 30 and through the holes in the handle. The pin 16 has a ring shaped handle 17 and a sleeve 18 on a reduced size end 25. The reduced size end 25 is received in a hole 19 in the sleeve 18. The sleeve 18 has a head 20 attached to it by fin 33 that prevents the pin from being removed from the hole in the body and in the handles.

In order to actuate the fire extinguisher, the swingable handle 12 must be swung about rivet 23 and moved toward the handle 11. Thus, the pin 16 must be removed before the handle 12 can be swung about its pivot 23. Ordinarily the user will snap head 20 off by breaking fin 33 and then remove head 20 and pull pin 16 out. If, however, the user panics and forgets to remove head 20, he can operate the fire extinguisher by exerting enough force on handles 11 and 12. If a sufficient force is exerted between the handles 11 and 12, the pin 16 will shear. The pin 16 is preferably made of a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene. The break-away button or head 20 is preferably made of red plastic so that it can be readily seen by an inspector.

The pin 16 has a body part 34 and a reduced size male part 25 which is received at assembly in hold 19 in sleeve 18. Hole 19 receives end 25 with asnug fit. An internal peripheral bead 36 is formed inside the cylindrical wall of the hole. External peripheral bead 35 is of larger outside diameter than the inside diameter of bead 36. Thus when the male end 25 is passed into the hole 19 and bead 35 snaps under bead 36, it will be very difficult to remove sleeve 18 from male part 25 after the parts have been put together. Thus in order to remove the pin, it will be necessary for the head 20 to be snapped off from the fin part 33.

When the head 20 is removed, an inspector is immediately warned that the fire extinguisher has been tampered with.

The handle 12 is pivotally attached to the body 30 by means of rivet 23. Rivet 23 is made up of the male part 37 and the female part 38 having heads 39 and 40 integrally attached respectively to them. The male member 41 fits into hole 42 and peripheral bead 44 snaps behind internal peripheral bead 45 and holds the two parts 37 and 38 together. In order to prevent confusion of the inspector by rivet 23 and pin 16, the rivet 23 can be made of a white plastic material or from some other color other than red so that the inspector will not see the rivet head 40 and confuse it with rivet head 20.

The band 46 is provided for support for trade name, and other pertinent printed matter. Band 46 may be made of ametallic material of any other suitable sheet material. The ends 47 of the band 46 are bent outward at right angles to each other and are received in pocket 49 of clip 50. Clip 50 is made of an integral plastic material and has a hole in it that receives screw 51. Screw 51 passes through the sides of clip 50 defining the pocket and through both ends of the band 46. Thus clip 50 forms a guard to protect the user against injury from the ends of the band 46 as well as providing a fastener for the ends of the band 46. The clip 50 also provides a hook 51 which overlies the hose 24 and holds it in position. The hose may be snapped out from under the end of hook 51.

Since the material of the pin and the button or head are of a frangible nature, the button or head cannot readily be reassembled on the pin. The reduced size end 25, when inserted in the hole 19, can be coated with a suitable adhesive so that it cannot readily be removed.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privelege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A fire extinguisher comprising a tank adapted to contain a fire extinguishing material,

a valve body supported on said tank,

a dispensing means connected to said valve body,

said valve body having a first handle fixed relative thereto and a second handle swingably connected to said valve body.

said second handle being generally channel shaped and receiving means fixed relative to said valve body between the flanges of said channel,

means swingably connecting said second channel to said valve body,

a bore extending through said channel legs and through said valve body,

and a pull pin made of frangible material extending through said bore whereby said pull pin is separated when said handles are moved relative toward each other,

said pull pin has a handle on one end and a reduced size end remote from said handle,

and a head having a sleeve attached thereto,

a bore in said sleeve receiving said reduced size male end of said pull pin,

said head being fixed to said pull pin.

2. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said head is made of a red plastic material.

3. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said pull pin has a handle in the form of a ring fixed to the end remote from said reduced size end.

4. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 2 wherein said head is connected to said pull pin by means of a fin,

said fin being relatively easy to fracture whereby said head is removed from said sleeve and said pin may be withdrawn from said valve.

5. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an internal peripheral bead,

and said male end has an external peripheral bead adapted to pass through said internal bead when said male end is assembled to said sleeve.

6. The fire extinguisher recited in claim wherein said means swingably connecting said second handle to said valve body comprises a rivet having a male body member and female body member,

each said male body member and said female body member having a head thereon remote from the other,

means connecting said male body member and said female body member together whereby said male body member and said female body member form a continuous rivet and are of equal diameter to each other,

said body member extending through said valve body and through said flanges of said channel at a posi- 5 tion spaced from said pull pin.

7. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said tank is generally cylindrical in shape and a band of sheet-like material extends around said tank,

said band terminating at two ends,

said ends being bent outwardly at right angles to said band a plastic clip, said plastic clip having a recess therein, said recess receiving said ends of said band,

and means extending through said clip and said ends whereby said clip is held to said band and said band is held around said tank. 8. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 7 wherein said clip has a hook on its end,

said hook being adapted to overlie the hose of said said handle attached to said pull pin comprises a ring integrally attached to said pin.

11. In combination, a fire extinguisher having a valve and having a handle swingably connected to said valve, and a safety pin extending through said handle and through said valve for holding said handle from swinging relative to said valve,

said pin comprising a body having a handle on one end and a head on the opposite end from said handle, said head being attached to said pin by means of an integral frangible fin whereby said head can be broken from said pull pin. 12. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said handle is in the form of a ring.

13. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said pin is made of a male part and a female part,

said male part having a portion telescopically received in said female part, and bead means on said male part for resisting withdrawal of said male part from said female part.

14. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said handle is swingably attached to said valve body by means of a rivet,

said rivet being made of a male part telescopically received in a female part, said male part and said female part each having a head thereon on the end opposite from the other,

and a bead on the inner periphery of said femalepart and a bead on the outer periphery of said male part,

said bead on said male part being adapted to snap over said bead on said female part wherein said male part is held against withdrawal from said female part. 

1. A fire extinguisher comprising a tank adapted to contain a fire extinguishing material, a valve body supported on said tank, a dispensing means connected to said valve body, said valve body having a first handle fixed relative thereto and a second handle swingably connected to said valve body. said second handle being generally channel shaped and receiving means fixed relative to said valve body between the flanges of said channel, means swingably connecting said second channel to said valve body, a bore extending through said channel legs and through said valve body, and a pull pin made of frangible material extending through said bore whereby said pull pin is separated when said handles are moved relative toward each other, said pull pin has a handle on one end and a reduced size end remote from said handle, and a head having a sleeve attached thereto, a bore in said sleeve receiving said reduced size male end of said pull pin, said head being fixed to said pull pin.
 2. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said head is made of a red plastic material.
 3. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said pull pin has a handle in the form of a ring fixed to the end remote from said reduced size end.
 4. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 2 wherein said head is connected to said pull pin by means of a fin, said fin being relatively easy to fracture whereby said head is removed from said sleeve and said pin may be withdrawn from said valve.
 5. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said sleeve has an internal peripheral bead, and said male end has an external peripheral bead adapted to pass through said internal bead when said male end is assembled to said sleeve.
 6. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 5 wherein said means swingably connecting said second handle to said valve body comprises a rivet having a male body member and female body member, each said male body member and said female body member having a head thereon remote from the other, means connecting said male body member and said female body member together whereby said male body member and said female body member form a continuous rivet and are of equal diameter to each other, said body member extending through said valve body and through said flanges of said channel at a position spaced from said pull pin.
 7. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said tank is generally cylindrical in shape and a band of sheet-like material extends around said tank, said band terminating at two ends, said ends being bent outwardly at right angles to said band a plastic clip, said plastic clip having a recess therein, said recess receiving said ends of said band, and means extending through said clip and said ends whereby said clip is held to said band and said band is held around said tank.
 8. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 7 wherein said clip has a hook on its end, said hook being adapted to overlie the hose of said fire extinguisher and to hold said hose in place.
 9. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 7 wherein said means extending through said ends of said band comprise a plastic threaded member.
 10. The fire extinguisher recited in claim 1 wherein said handle attached to said pull pin comprises a ring integrally attached to said pin.
 11. In combination, a fire extinguisher having a valve and having a handle swingably connected to said valve, and a safety pin extending through said handle and through said valve for holding said handle from swinging relative to said valve, said pin comprising a body having a handle on one end and a head on the opposite end from said handle, said head being attached to said pin by means of an integral frangible fin whereby said head can be broken from said pull pin.
 12. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said handle is in the form of a ring.
 13. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said pin is made of a male part and a female part, said male part having a portion telescopically received in said female part, and bead means on said male part for resisting withdrawal of said male part from said female part.
 14. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said handle is swingably attached to said valve body by means of a rivet, said rivet being made of a male part telescopically received in a female part, said male part and said female part each having a head thereon on the end opposite from the other, and a bead on the inner periphery of said female part and a bead on the outer periphery of said male part, said bead on said male part being adapted to snap over said bead on said female part wherein said male part is held against withdrawal from said female part. 